Supplements to Increase Blood Flow to Penis Naturally: Safe and Effective Options

There is a lack of strong scientific proof that vitamin supplements can improve erectile function. ED is often treatable with prescription medications or medical procedures. However, getting enough vitamins, either in your diet or with the help of dietary supplements, is a great way to increase blood flow to the penis naturally.

Talk with your doctor first about taking vitamins and other supplements. If you take certain medications, you may need to be careful when taking large doses of vitamins. Too much of anything, even something healthy like a vitamin, can cause health problems.

Some of the best vitamins for erectile strength include vitamins B3, B9, D and more. However, it is important to note that there is still a lack of scientific evidence to fully support taking vitamins to alleviate erectile dysfunction.

What Supplements to Increase Blood Flow to the Penis Naturally?

DHEA:  Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

DHEA  is a hormone produced in the adrenal glands. It’s a natural booster of hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Low levels of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) are found in some men with ED.

Citrulline and L-arginine

One of the supplements to increase blood flow to the penis naturally is Citrulline. It's an amino acid that may cause blood vessels to relax, similar to how Viagra works. It is one of several  blood flow supplements and is the precursor of arginine, another amino acid that widens blood vessels. Watermelon is a good source of citrulline which you can use as an herbal remedy. 

You can also check out Cialis, an FDA-approve prescription drug with the active ingredient tadalafil. This medicine has PDE5 inhibitors, a class of drugs that inhibit the enzyme phosphodiesterase 5. Cialis treats ED by relaxing the blood arteries leading to the penis, allowing more blood to flow into it. Cialis relieves BPH symptoms by relaxing the muscles in your bladder, making it easier to pee.

Cialis is only accessible with a doctor's prescription. It isn't sold over the counter.

Vitamin D and Vitamin E

Vitamin D is primarily known for its role in bone health and endocrine diseases such as diabetes.  Researchers have suggested that Vitamin D plays a role in the effectiveness of your sexual function. 

"Recent clinical works have suggested that low vitamin D levels may somehow be associated with the occurrence of sexual disturbances, especially erectile dysfunction, even if not all the studies agree on this point,” wrote the researchers. “These results need confirmation because of their potential revolutionary approach to the treatment of sexual dysfunction.”

Vitamin D was medically reviewed by researchers who found that higher levels of 25(OH) vitamin D were significantly associated with high values of total testosterone and all of the IIEF questionnaire parameters. Furthermore, higher testosterone levels were significantly and positively associated with increased levels of erectile function and IIEF scores.

In the sub-sample that received vitamin D supplementation, total and free testosterone levels increased and erectile function improved. Also, Vitamin E, which is one of several supplements for penile blood flow, helps enhance blood flow and oxygenation to the penis.

Consider taking note of the relationship between Vitamin D and Magnesium. Under normal circumstances, magnesium helps blood arteries relax. Low magnesium levels can cause blood vessel constriction, which restricts blood flow and elevates blood pressure. Low magnesium may also prevent the penile vein from fully relaxing, resulting in erectile dysfunction.

You may want to consult first with your attending urology physician for professional medical advice on using Vitamin D and magnesium.

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)   

A new study found that vitamin B3 is commonly used for vascular conditions and that, a daily dose improves erectile function in men with high cholesterol. 

The results show that the 80 men who took niacin and began the study with moderate or severe erectile dysfunction (ED) reported an improvement in their ability to maintain an erection. The 80 men who took a placebo pill, who also began the study with only mild ED, did not have a change in symptoms.  

Too much niacin can cause problems such as ulcers, gout, arrhythmias and increased risk of stroke. 

Niacin is naturally found in foods like turkey, avocado and peanuts

Folic acid (Vitamin B9)

Folic Acid is linked to nitric oxide production and the erectile response. It can be found in herbal remedies, such as oranges, leafy green vegetables, bread, grains, cereals, pasta, rice and beans. 

Zinc 

Zinc helps regulate testosterone levels in some men, which may help with ED symptoms

Other Natural Remedies

If you want to know how to increase blood flow to the penis naturally with herbal remedies, you should know that they—like all herbal supplements—are not FDA-approved or regulated. That means you can’t be 100% sure of the strength or purity of what you buy.

Unlike prescription ED medication, natural methods are not required to be proven clinically effective. However,  studies have shown that certain vitamins and supplements increase nitric oxide, which helps improve blood circulation to the penis. Some vitamins and supplements might also have overall health benefits. 

Horny goat weed

Horny goat weed is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat fatigue and low libido or sex drive. Some anecdotal reports and animal tests suggest that horny goat weed might help address ED by improving erections. Horny goat weed contains icariin, a substance that is a mild inhibitor of PDE5 Inhibiting PDE5 is how ED medications like Viagra and Cialis work. However, studies on icariin have been conducted on animals and in test tubes, and it may not work the same way in the human body.

Yohimbe

Yohimbine, the active ingredient in yohimbe bark, is a common ingredient in supplements sold as aphrodisiacs or male sexual enhancers. 

Red ginseng

Korean ginseng has been touted for the treatment of erectile dysfunction for years. In one meta-analysis of 24 controlled trials involving 2,080 men with ED, researchers found that ginseng “significantly improved erectile function” and “may be an effective herbal treatment for ED.” However, although they cautioned that more studies were needed before that could be definitively stated.

Vitamin deficiency and ED

It hasn’t been clinically proven that taking vitamins can effectively treat ED. However, there are some connections between vitamins and sexual health.

Getting sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients is important for general health. Taking vitamin supplements may be a good idea if you’re deficient in one area, such as having a low vitamin D level.

Vitamin D

A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that a large percentage of men with ED also have low levels of vitamin D. If you’re experiencing ED, you may want to have your level of vitamin D checked. Other symptoms of a low vitamin D level may be too subtle to notice. However, if you have severe vitamin D deficiency, you may have bone pain or muscle weakness. Vitamin D levels can be checked with a simple blood test and for most people corrected with a supplement.

One study found that men who were deficient in vitamin D were 32% more likely to have trouble with erections (Farag, 2016). According to the CDC, one-third of the US population had insufficient amounts of vitamin D. Your doctor can determine if you’re vitamin D deficient with a blood test.

Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid, also known as Vitamin C, helps support blood flow. Blood flow affects erectile function, so vitamin C may help. Vitamin C can’t be stored in the body, so you need to eat enough foods rich in vitamin C every day. Good sources of vitamin C include:

• Citrus fruits
• Berries
• Melons
• Pineapple
• Papaya
• Tomatoes
• Spinach
• Broccoli

Vitamin (Vitamin B9)

Folic Acid (vitamin B9) is linked to nitric oxide production and erectile response. Some studies have found a correlation between folate dysfunction and erectile deficiency (Yan, 2014).

Talk with your doctor

Be wary of any products that are considered sexual medicine for male enhancement or “supplements” that claim to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) or enhance sexual performance just like premature ejaculation and promise to help elevate sperm count. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many of these products may contain prescription drugs or other unlisted ingredients that can be harmful. Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements or over-the-counter remedies from pharmaceutical companies.

ED could also be a symptom of other problems, such as heart disease or cardiovascular disease and diabetes. What vitamin helps blood flow to the penile tissue can vary depending on the underlying cause of ED, so it’s essential to your overall health to tell your doctor about ED. Your doctor can check your cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as other markers of health.

Before taking any supplements to increase blood flow to the penis naturally, we recommend visiting your doctor or a healthcare professional. Your doctor may detect life threatening illnessand restore your sexual health by treating health conditions with prescription medication, such as low blood pressure, and high blood pressure, along with diet and exercise, or by controlling your diabetes. You also need to consider checking if there is a side effect to using generic medication to help you with erectile dysfunction.

Healthy lifestyle choices, such as relieving stress, quitting smoking and acupuncture are complementary remedies that work well. We highly recommend seeking guidance from a doctor or therapist. And remember, if you have a medical emergency, contact your physician or call 911.

Sources

Najafabadi, B. T., et al. (2021). Vitamin E and ginseng combined supplement for treatment of male erectile dysfunction: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S221295881930597X

Crafa, A., et al. (2020). Is there an association between vitamin D deficiency and erectile dysfunction? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1411/htm

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